IAS Ravindra Kumar belongs to the 2011 Batch of Uttar Pradesh Cadre and is currently posted as the district collector of Bareilly, UP. Previously he was part of the Sikkim cadre, where he held various government roles bringing a wealth of experience from his tenure in both states. Remarkably he is the only IAS officer to have climbed Mount Everest twice.

His vision for Bareilly focuses on improving the public distribution system. He is leading efforts to transform the PDS into a more efficient, transparent, and economically empowering system"A PDS shop is essentially a fair price shop. If 5 kg of goods are to be distributed, shopkeepers often give 4 kg due to low income, leading to leakage and corruption," he explained. "We created a model that allows these shops to sell additional items, boosting their income and reducing leakage."

This innovative model termed Annapurna Model Shops is revolutionizing the PDS creating a win-win situation for all stakeholders. Traditional PDS Outlets are being upgraded into modern supermarkets and e-commerce hubs. These shops now serve as one-stop centers, offering a wide range of daily essentials like tea, salt, and soap, along with medical supplies such as ORS packets, baby care products, and handwash. "We approved 42 items from the state government, priced slightly below market rates. This makes them affordable and convenient for rural people, who no longer need to travel to the city for necessities," Kumar said.

Additionally, new PDS shops are being constructed on government land with a dual-purpose design. One half serves as a hygienic storage and distribution area for PDS supplies, strategically located in motorable areas for accessibility.The other half functions as a common service center, offering government services such as income, caste, and birth certificates, along with banking services.

“It is a model with multiple benefits” Kumar noted. "It not only strengthens the PDS but also fosters infrastructure development, creates employment opportunities, and economically empowers shopkeepers and rural communities."

The initiative has received widespread recognition, with the Government of India adopting the model and planning its replication across all districts in the country. "So far, we have established 60 shops, and another 30 are under construction," he said.